They Used to Complain About the Smell... Now Americans Are Enthusiastic: "There's a Reason Koreans Eat It Every Day"

Kimchi Exports Reach 86 Million Dollars in First Half, Up 3.2%
100 Million Dollar Mark Expected as Early as July
Daesang Jongga Records 48 Million Dollars in Exports in First Half

Driven by the popularity of K-food, exports of kimchi, Korea's representative fermented food, rebounded in the first half of this year. Jongga, the kimchi brand of Daesang, which accounts for more than half of total kimchi exports, is making all-out efforts to expand its market presence, especially by boosting sales in major markets such as the United States.

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According to the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs on July 13, kimchi exports in the first half of this year reached 86 million dollars (approximately KRW 127.7 billion), up 3.2% from the same period last year. This is the second highest first-half total after 2021 (86.73 million dollars). For the first half, kimchi exports rose from 76.88 million dollars in 2022 to the 80 million dollar range the following year, increased to 83.81 million dollars in 2024, and then saw a slight decrease to 83.27 million dollars last year.

However, on an annual basis, kimchi exports reached a record high for the second consecutive year last year, totaling 164 million dollars. Annual kimchi exports, which stood at the 80 million dollar range in 2016, more than doubled in the past 10 years. The number of countries importing kimchi increased from 85 in 2020 and, for the first time ever, surpassed 100 last year. At this rate, another all-time high is expected to be set this year.

In particular, based on monthly export trends, it is anticipated that kimchi exports will surpass 100 million dollars as early as July this year. In 2022, this threshold was reached in September, but last year and in 2023, it was moved up to August.

The United States is the leading overseas market driving the expansion of kimchi exports. In the first half of this year, kimchi exports to North America totaled 30.6 million dollars, up 15.3% from the same period last year. North America accounted for 40% of total kimchi exports. As the popularity of K-food grows, more local consumers are seeking kimchi, driving increased consumption. Additionally, earlier this year, the U.S. government’s “Dietary Guidelines for Americans” mentioned fermented foods, such as kimchi, as beneficial for gut health, which is believed to have further fueled global market growth.

Korean packaged kimchi brands are leading this expansion in kimchi exports. Most notably, Daesang, the top kimchi export brand, is focusing on expanding overseas sales through its packaged kimchi brand, Jongga. In the first half of this year, Daesang Jongga recorded kimchi exports of 48 million dollars, accounting for 56% of total kimchi exports.

Daesang Jongga’s kimchi exports have exceeded 90 million dollars for the past two years. Since 2023, the brand has consistently accounted for more than 50% of total annual kimchi exports. The figure for the first half of this year approaches the record high share of 57% seen in 2024. By region, the United States accounted for the largest share of Jongga’s kimchi exports last year at 34%, followed by Japan (25%) and Europe (12%).

Daesang Jongga is devoting full efforts to expanding its export markets by broadening its targeted regions. Currently, the brand has a presence in over 90 countries worldwide, including the Americas, Europe, and Asia. Recently, it has expanded into African markets such as Côte d'Ivoire and Kenya, Middle Eastern countries including the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Kuwait, and Latin American countries like Chile and Peru.

At the same time, Daesang Jongga is producing and supplying kimchi not only in Korea for export, but also in four countries: the United States, China, Poland, and Vietnam. Since 2022, its factory in Los Angeles has been producing both original kimchi and locally tailored products. The company is also pushing to establish a kimchi factory in Krakow, Poland, with plans to produce more than 3,000 tons of kimchi annually by 2030.

In addition to Daesang, CJ CheilJedang exports kimchi produced at its plants in Korea, Vietnam, the United States, and Australia to more than 50 countries including the United States, Japan, Vietnam, and Australia. Pulmuone also supplies kimchi produced at its global kimchi plant in Iksan, North Jeolla Province, to overseas markets.

An industry official said, “As kimchi gains recognition as a healthy fermented food, demand from overseas consumers is growing, and most of the exported kimchi is being consumed locally. We expect exports to continue expanding going forward.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.